[Gene expressions of DNA methyltransferase 1 and human leukocyte antigen-DRalpha in hepatocelluar carcinoma and their clinical significance].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical significance and prognostic value of the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and human leukocyte antigen-DRalpha (HLA-DRalpha) in hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Paraffin-embedded tissues of 234 HCC underwent curative liver resection and 18 healthy adult liver samples from January 1991 to June 2002 in our department were used for the tissue microarray. Immunohistochemical technique (EnVision) was applied to detect the expression of DNMT1 and HLA-DRalpha. The relationships between DNMT1, HLA-Ralpha and clinicopathological variables were analyzed statistically.


RESULTS
The rates of positive expression of DNMT1 and HLA-DRalpha were 27.4% and 39.3%. The significant correlation was present between DNMT1 and portal vein tumor thrombus, alpha fetoprotein (AFP) level or TNM staging (P < 0.05), but no significant correlation was present between DNMT1 and lymph node invasion. The significant correlation was present between HLA-DRalpha and lymph node invasion or TNM staging (P < 0.05), but no significant correlation was present between HLA-DRalpha and lymph node invasion or AFP level (P > 0.05). The postoperative median survival time was 6.87 months and the 1-, 3-, 5-year cumulative survival rate was (38.89+/-6.63)%, (19.92+/-5.48)%, (17.58+/-5.31)% respectively in HCC with positive DNMT1, while the median survival time was 40.33 months and the 1-, 3-, 5-year cumulative survival rate was (81.01+/-4.41)%, (50.78+/-5.84)%, (38.04+/-6.09)% respectively in patients with negative DNMT1(P < 0.001). The postoperative median survival time was 40.33 months and the 1-, 3-, 5-year cumulative survival rate was (81.01+/-4.41)%, (50.78+/-5.84)%, (38.04+/-6.09)% respectively in HCC with positive HLA-DRalpha, while the median survival time was 12.43 months and the 1-, 3-, 5-year cumulative survival rate was (51.72+/-6.56)%, (26.44+/-5.91)%, (13.71+/-6.83)% (P < 0.01) respectively in patients with negative HLA-DRalpha (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
DNMT1 and HLA-DRalpha are prognostic factors for HCC, which may be promising molecular prognostic factors for HCC.
Lv
Wen-ping
WP
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
Dong
Jia-hong
JH
Shi
Shuang
S
Huang
Zhi-qiang
ZQ
Guo
De-yu
DY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015798:HLA-DR1 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C411744:DMAP1 protein, human; D015798:HLA-DR1 Antigen; D012097:Repressor Proteins